Patna, Feb. 27: A 14-year-old rape victim from Muzaffarpur has written to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam seeking justice or permission to die.

A 21-year-old youth, Jimmy Thakur, had allegedly raped the girl from Patahihari village, 2 km from Muzaffarpur town, on September 27 last year.

Sadar police station had registered a rape case and arrested the accused the next day. The girl and her family, however, started receiving alleged threats from the father of the accused, Anil Thakur, known to be an influential person in the Bhumihar-dominated village.

The girl’s father, after losing the job of a temple priest, moved to Delhi six months ago to earn a livelihood.

The girl, a student of Class VIII, lives with her stepmother, four siblings and grandfather in the village.

The victim, who went to Delhi to stay with her aunt soon after the incident, returned to the village this January amid renewed threats.

On February, 19, the girl wrote a one-page hand-written letter in which she urged the President to “either intervene and get her justice or allow her to commit suicide”.

“As I have heard that Kalam uncle is very compassionate towards children, I am hopeful of getting justice,” she had told reporters.

Though a response from Kalam is awaited, the administration has taken note of the matter, giving hope to the girl.

Deputy inspector-general of police (Tirhut) Gupteshwar Pandey recently held a “maha panchayat” meet at the village requesting villagers to ensure the girl’s safety.

A senior police officer said some villagers had been harassing the girl. “Police have been able to convince villagers to provide the victim social and emotional security and help her come out of the shock,” said the officer. Three constables have been deployed at the victim’s house.

Denying the charges levelled against his son Jimmy, Thakur said: “Some villagers are envious of my wealth and are trying to implicate my son in a false case.”

The district police are preparing to file a chargesheet in the case by next month. The accused is currently lodged in the Muzaffarpur jail.